TAXI DRIVER CAUGHT ON HIS OWN CAMERA TRYING TO RAPE PASSENGER COULD WALK FREE IN ONE YEAR

A taxi driver who has been imprisoned after he was caught on camera sexually assaulting a female passenger could walk free in just one year.

Mustafa Tavasoli, 26, picked up the passenger from a birthday party last February in North Terrace, Adelaide, and proceeded to drive her to her house.

The entire trip was captured on dashcam footage.

Upon reaching her home, the woman was unable to unlock the taxi's back door, which prompted the driver to leave his seat and open the door for her.

Tavasoli pushed her against the back seat, rubbed himself against her and groped her, according to Adelaide Now.

Tavasoli eventually stopped trying to kiss the woman and drove away.

'Women should not be put in this position. Her situation was made all the worse by her being in a taxi, a place where she was entitled to rely on your acting in a professional way and taking her safely to her destination,' District Court judge Gordon Barrett said.

'The first is the sad fact that this victim, like so many women, reflected at length on whether they had done anything to cause you to do what you did,' he added.

The offender was charged with unlawful imprisonment, indecent assault, and assault with intent to rape.

While awaiting his sentence, the court heard Tavasoli was assaulted in prison because of his Afghani heritage.

Tavasoli was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

However, he could be eligible for parole in November 2019 after the judge took note of his clean criminal record.